Portable sawmill having horizontal and vertical saws



MIL- 1- July so, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS Filed Juan 1, 1954 o. M. SCOTT 2,800,932

'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1954 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1954 mm TOR, 025527 M. scarf 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1, 1954 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL. AND VERTICAL SAWS Filed June 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvawoze, 025597 a 86077 nrraeua/s 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 1, 1954 Q .5 2 0 :l- O 3 3- 8- No Q 1. 0 m no 0 m9 OP Vh INVENTOR. 028597 K4. 56077 WTZ'OQA/EVS 0. M. SCOTT July 30, 1957 PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS Filed June 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR, 025597 M. 56077 Mfil arraQA/FVS United States Patent PORTABLE SAWMILL HAVING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SAWS Ozhert M. Scott, Montrose, Calif.

Application June 1, 1954, Serial No. 433,331

2 Claims. (Cl. 143-38) This invention relates to sawmills and is particularly directed to an improved form of sawmill having a pair of rotary saws mounted substantially at right angles, with provision for engaging them with the log simultaneously or alternately. The log may be stationary and the saws mounted to move longitudinally to cut the log into timbers or boards, or the log may be mounted to move longitudinally past the saws.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable sawmill that will handle large logs but which can be moved, fully assembled, by highway transportation with a minimum of effort, and set up for operation with a minimum loss of time.

Another object is to provide such a device which can work efficiently with relatively small saws and relatively small power units.

Another object is to provide a sawmill device of this type capable of handling unusually long logs.

Another object is to provide a portable sawmill having multiple saws so arranged that logs can be cut directly into sized boards, lumber or timbers.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section taken substantially on the lines 2-2 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 44 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 6-6 as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 7-'! as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view partly in section and taken substantially on the lines 8-8 as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an elevation view taken substantially on the lines 9-9 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation taken substantially on the lines 10-19 as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 11 is a side elevation taken substantially on the lines 11-11 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a side elevation showing the relation of the horizontal and vertical saws.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially in the direction shown by the lines 14-14 as indicated in Figure 15.

Figure 15 is an end elevation taken substantially on the lines 15-15 as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a front elevation taken substantially on the linesl6-16 as viewed in Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing another position of the parts.

2,800,932 Patented July 30, 1957 "ice Figure 18 is a plan view in diagrammatic form showing operation of the device.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18 showing the horizontal saw swung to an inoperative position.

Figures 20 and 2l are perspective views showing op erations of the horizontal and vertical saws respectively.

Figure 22 shows a series of cross-sections in diagrammatic form illustrating the operative steps which are performed in sequence in cutting a log into timbers or boards.

The preferred embodiment of my invention as shown in the drawings employs a moving saw carrier for cutting a stationary log. This arrangement is by illustration only and it is recognized that the saw carrier may be held stationary while the log is moved longitudinally. The main frame generally designated 10 includes a pair of side frames 11 and 12 connected by horizontal bridging elements 13. The side frame 11 is provided with grooved wheels 14 and the side frame 12 is provided with wheels 15 which are not grooved. The wheels 14 and 15 roll on parallel horizontal rails 16 which rest on suitable ties or sub structure 17.

The main frame 10 carries a vertical lift platform or support 18 and, as shown in the drawings, this support 18 includes a plurality of upright members 19 which are provided with lateral extensions 20. These extensions 20 are each connected by a pivot pin 21 to an car 22 provided at the lower end of a lift tube 23. A nut 24 (Figure 4) is fixed in the upper end of this lift tube and receives a lift screw 25. The lift screw 25 is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly 26 at its upper end. Turning of the screw 25 causes the nut 24 to raise or lower the lift tube 23 and hence the lifting support or platform 18. In order that the four lift screws 25 shall operate in unison suitable gearing is provided at the upper ends of the screws. As shown in the drawings, this gearing may include meshing bevel gears 27 and 28 and parallel shafts 29 and 30 which extend in the direction of the rails 15. Sprockets 31 and 32 on the shafts 29 and 30 are connected by a chain 33. The power for turning the shafts 29 and 30 and for turning all four lift screws 25 is supplied by the auxiliary power unit 34 (Figure l) driven through sprocket 35, chain 36, and sprocket 37.

Mounted for lateral movement on the lifting support 18 is a cross carriage generally designated 38. This cross carriage 38 includes parallel channel members 39 (see Figure 6), which are mounted on guide plates 40 and 41 fixed to the lifting support 18. The cross carriage 38 provides a support for the prime mover 42 and for the mechanism which supports and drives the vertical saw 43 and the horizontal saw 44, as described below.

Means are provided for moving the cross carriage 38 under power in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of the main frame 10. As best shown in Figures 6, 11, and 13, of the drawings, this means includes an abutment 45 which is mounted on each side of the lift support 18. A flexible cable 46 has one end connected to this abutment by means of the fitting 47 and this cable passes over a pulley 48 mounted on the cross carriage 38. The other end of the cable 46 is connected by a fitting 49 to one end of the chain 50. The chain 50 passes over sprocket 51 mounted on the cross carriage 38 and has its other end connected to the abutment 45 by means of the fitting 52. The cables 46 and chains 50 are mounted on opposite sides of the cross carriage 38. A horizontal shaft 53 connects the sprockets 51 and this shaft is driven by means of an auxiliary power unit 54 driving through a reduction gear assembly 55 and chain 56. The extent of movement of the cross carriage is such that the horizontal saw 44 may project outward through the large central opening 127 (Figure 1) provided in the side member 11 of the frame 10.

The main frame is caused to roll along the parallel tracks 16 by means of an auxiliary power unit 57 (Figure 1) driving through reduction gearing 58 and 59. The reduction gearing 59 turns a horizontal lay shaft 60 mounted on the main frame 10. At its opposite ends this shaft carries a pair of pulleys 61, and a flexible cable 62 passes over each of the driven pulleys 61 and also passes over a pair of adjacent pulleys 63 mounted on a stub shaft 64. The stub shafts 64 are fixed to the main frame. After passing around the adjacent pulleys 63 one end of the cable is fixed at 65 near an extreme end of one of the rails 16. The other end of the cable 62 is fixed at 66 near the other extreme end of one of the rails 16. Two cables 62 are employed, one on each side of the machine so that power is applied on both sides of the frame 10 for causing it to roll along the tracks 16.

The rails 16 define a log-receiving space between them.

A log generally designated A may be dragged into this L space by suitable winches, not shown. Clamp devices generally designated 67 (Figure 3) may be provided for holding the log A" against movement. These clamping devices 67 may include wedge elements which bite into the lower portion of the log. A single screw jack 69 serves to operate pairs of elements 68.

The vertical saw 43 is clamped to the shaft 70 (Figures 12 and 13). This shaft 70 is mounted in spaced bearings 71 and 72 carried on the cross carriage 38. A multiple groove pulley 73 is fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 70 and driven by belts 74 from the drive pulley 75. The drive pulley 75 is fixed to the output shaft 76 of the prime mover 42. A gear case 77 for a right angle drive assembly causes the vertical shaft 78 to turn whenever the drive shaft 70 is driven. The vertical shaft 78 carries a multiple groove pulley 79 which drives through belts 80 to turn the pulley 81 fixed to the driven shaft 82. The horizontal saw 44 is fixed to the lower end of this shaft 82. This shaft 82 is mounted in spaced bearings contained within housings 83 and 84. These housings are fixed to parallel arms 85 which are adapted to swing about the axis of aligned pivot bolts 86. A stiffener bar 87 connects the free swinging ends of the arms 85. Brackets 88 which are fixed with respect to the cross carriage 38 support the pivot bolts 86. The aligned axes of these pivot bolts are substantially coincident with the axes of the vertical shaft 78. From this description it will be understood that the horizontal saw 44 may be swung laterally by swinging the arms 85 about their pivotal supports. Power means is provided for swinging the horizontal saw 44 laterally and, as shown in Figures 13 and 15 of the drawings, this means includes the power cylinder assembly 89 which is pivoted to the cross carriage at 90. A piston rod 91 projects from the assembly 89 and is connected to the stiffener bar 87 by means of the gusset plate 92 and pivot pin 93.

Stop means is provided for limiting the extent of swinging movement of the horizontal saw 44. As shown in the drawings, this means includes the link 94 which is pivoted at one end to the stiffener bar 87 and pivoted at the other end to the slide block 95. This slide block 95 travels on the horizontal bar 96. A pair of slide rods 97 and 98 are mounted to slide horizontally on the cross frame 38. As shown in Figures 14 and 17 a T-shaped control piece 99 is pivoted at 100 and its opposite ends are connected by links 101 and 102 to the slide bars 97 and 98 respectively. A manual control rod 103 is connected to the central leg of the T-shaped control piece 99 by means of the pivot pin 104. When the manual control rod 103 is actuated to place the T-shaped control piece 99 in the position shown in Figure 14, the abutment 105 on the slide block 95 is free to move rcarwardly until it contacts the end of the stop screw 106 on the cross carriage 38. When the manual control rod is actuated to move the parts to the position shown in Figure 17, the abutment 105 strikes the rod 97. When the manual control rod 93 is actuated to swing the parts to a third position (not shown) in which the rod 98 is projected while the rod 97 is retracted, the abutment 105 strikes the rod 98. Three separate stop positions are thus provided to control the depth of cut of the horizontal saw 44.

It may sometimes be desirable to tilt the horizontal saw 44 slightly to avoid objectionable rubbing contact of the lower face of the saw disk with the surface of the cut log. The extent of this tilting is greatly accentu' ated in the drawings (Figures 10 and 15) for purposes of illustration. The tilting may be accomplished by using shims between the bearing housings 83 and 84 and the support arms 85.

In order to avoid dragging of the lower surface of the horizontal saw on the previously cut surface of the log, it is desirable to employ guide means at the outer swinging end of the arms 85. As best shown in Figures 10, 12, 13 and 15, a horizontal guide plate 108 is adjustably fixed to the cross carriage 38. Sliding guides or rollers 109 are mounted on the gusset plate 92 and arranged to contact both upper and lower surfaces of the guide plate 108. This serves to provide stability for the outer ends of the swinging arms 85. The guide plate is preferably formed with a very small offset 108*, which serves to raise the horizontal saw 44 slightly when it is retracted from cutting position. Dragging of the lower surface of the horizontal saw on the previously cut surface of the log is thereby avoided. This feature of lifting the horizontal saw slightly in retracted position can be preserved even though the horizontal saw be mounted upon a separate transverse slide carriage instead of upon a swinging mount.

It is important that the lifting support 18 remain at a fixed elevation and that the cross carriage 38 be restrained from lateral movement while the saw cuts are being made. In order to releasably lock the lifting support 18 and the cross carriage 38 with respect to the main frame 10, I provide releasable latching devices, best shown in Figure 2. The latching devices are generally designated 110 and 111. Each of these devices may include a hydraulic cylinder 112 having a piston rod 113 which projects against one arm of a clamp lever 114. The lever 114 is pivoted to the main frame 10 by means of pin 115. When the piston rod 113 is projected, the friction element 116 is engaged with a portion of the lifting support 18. When the piston rod 113 is retracted, the spring 117 releases the friction clamp. The friction clamping device, generally designated 118, serves to prevent sliding movement of the cross carriage 38 with respect to the lifting support 18. The hydraulic cylinder 119 includes a projecting piston rod 120 which acts against the lever 121 and causes it to swing about the fixed pivot 122. This in turn causes the pivot pin 123 to move the clamp bar 124 laterally thereby engaging the lip 125 thereof with the channel section 39 (see Figure 6). When the piston rod 120 is retracted the spring 126 acts to release the clamp.

An important feature of this sawing machine is in combining the operation of a vertically cutting saw with a horizontally cutting saw, in which combination the horizontally cutting saw can be swung to cut deeper than the plane of the vertical saw or can be swung back and away from the plane of the vertical saw so that the horizontal saw is not in a position to cut. The swinging action of the horizontal saw is very important for the reason that there are times when it is desirable that the depth of cut of the two saws should intersect, times when the horizontal saw should cut deeper than the plane of the vertical saw, and other times when the horizontal saw should be swung back to an inoperative position so that the vertical saw can make one or several cuts before the cant is cut loose from the log by the horizontal saw. This relationship of the horizontal and vertical saws is retained when the main frame 10 is held stationary and the log moved longitudinally beneath it.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sawmill for cutting a log longitudinally into boards, the combination of: a frame, a substantially vertical rotary saw supported on the frame, a substantially horizontal rotary saw, power means for turning the saws, a member mounted to swing about a vertical axis on the frame, means supporting the horizontal saw on said member, a power means for swinging said member to and from a first position in which the horizontal saw lies entirely on one side of the plane of the vertical saw and a second position in which the cutting edge of the horizontal saw intersects and extends beyond the plane of the vertical saw, a cam plate on the frame having a vertical oiiset therein, and guide means on the swinging a member engaging the cam plate to lift the horizontal saw slightly when the member is swung toward said secend position.

2. In a sawmill for cutting a log longitudinally into boards, the combination of: a frame, a substantially vertical rotary saw supported on the frame, a substantially horizontal rotary saw, power means for turning the saws, a member mounted to swing about a vertical axis on the frame, means supporting the horizontal saw on said member in slightly tilted position so that the plane thereof forms an acute angle with the plane of the vertical saw to minimize dragging of the lower surface of the horizontal saw on a cut surface of the log, power means for swinging the said member laterally to and from a first position in which the horizontal saw lies entirely on one side of the plane of the vertical saw and a second position in which the cutting edge of the horizontal saw intersects and extends beyond the plane of the vertical saw, a cam plate on the frame having a vertical offset therein, and guide means on the swinging member engaging the cam plate to lift the horizontal saw slightly when the member is swung toward said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 13,305 Fulghum July 24, 1855 73,214 Wheeler et a1 Jan. 7, 1868 331,135 Holt Nov. 24, 1885 333,664 Peck Jan. 5, 1886 683,590 Brower Get. 1, 1901 685,560 Berry Oct. 29, 1901 742,848 Dyer Nov. 3, 1903 752,640 Autry Feb. 23, 1904 1,725,295 Orr Aug. 20, 1929 2,672,896 Shurtliff Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,782 Sweden Apr. 10, 1945 124,636 Australia June 18, 1947 144,974 Australia Feb. 5, 1952 

